01.

MOTOR SKILLS GAMES WITH THE ROLLING BALL (STAGE 1, 2, 3)

Discover the most suitable games for people with Parkinson’s disease.

FORMS OF PARKINSON

Working with people with Parkinson’s is possible with activities adapted to their needs. Parkinson is a neurodegenerative disease which causes motor difficulties, but with a targeted stimulation it is possible to rehabilitate the person and the deterioration associated to the disease can be delayed. The motor disorders are often asymmetric, that is, in just one part of the body and they can affect different body areas (legs, arms, hands…). These disorders can appear in different moments of the day and with a different duration and intensity.

The type of activity depends, therefore, on the current disorder and on the disease severity. The Rolling Ball can be used with all the people affected by Parkinson’s and it can be adapted to each situation.

Stage 1 of Parkinson’s disease

At this stage, the first symptoms of the disease begin to appear: slowness in movements, rigidity and tremors. These symptoms don’t necessarily affect people’s daily life.

Then, the person has to use the bimanual capabilities to incline the tablet and to move the ball. It is important to coordinate both hands because an unbalanced inclination can give an inaccurate direction.

Finally, once you reach the circle, another circle appears and the excercise resumes. You stimulate, therefore, the modulation of muscle tone because the ball must change direction quickly and so the tablet’s inclination must be adapted.

Stage 2 of Parkinson’s disease

This stage is called “honeymoon” because the symptoms are milder, almost inexistent, as if there was a regression of the disease. However, this stage is temporary and the symptoms will appear. You can take advantage of this stage in order to continue to stimulate the motricity and to learn to better control the movements in the future.

Follow the line

Follow the line with the ball.

In this game, you can select straight lines (from left to right and vice versa, from the top down and vice versa or even diagonally) or a mixed route where there will be all the directions.

You also stimulate the movement control and the regulation of muscle tone because the ball not only has to reach a final goal, but it has also to exactly follow the path traced. The adaptation of the movement is, therefore, fundamental.

The adaptation is not only in the direction, but also in the speed to give to the ball. In the straight segments, the person can incline more the tablet and give a more important speed, but approaching to the change of direction, the person has to reduce the speed to better manage the movement.

Face the current

Score as many goals as possible, all while going upstream.

Thanks to this game, you can stimulate several cognitive function.

To move the balloon, you stimulate the bimanual skills, but also the muscle tone because in the water there is the current (represented by the white lines) which rejects the balloon. The “power” to put in the inclination of the tablet must be proportional to the force of the current.

The presence of the current makes the game useful in a situation of bradykinesia because if the person fails to quickly adapt the inclination and the power, the balloon will be blown back.

Finally, you stimulate the attention because the person has to concentrate on the trajectory to reach the net, on the obstacles and on the force of the current at the same time.

Stage 3 of Parkinson’s disease

In this stage, there is a reappearance of the symptoms which may occur through a slowdown of the movement or the presence of involuntary movements. In this stage, there is a “motor fluctuation”, so the symptoms can alternate and appear at different times of day.

Stay in the circle

Keep the ball inside the circle while it is moving.

This game is very useful at this stage because it can be used regardless of the symptoms.

If the person makes involuntary movements, he or she will make the ball come out from the circle. So the person will have to get to control these movements and to find a strategy to quickly find the balance. This stimulation is still effective if the person has tremors.

In addition, the circle changes direction in a random way, so you also stimulate the attention and the reflexes.

Keep it at the center

Keep the ball at the center of the screen.

In the middle of the screen there is a black spot, consequently if the ball moves, the person will have a reference point to find the correct position. You can, therefore, work on the use of the feedback to modify the movement.

Although the goal is to keep the tablet stable, the hands will make small movements anyway. So you stimulate the modulation and the regulation of muscle tone.

02.

COGNITIVE GAMES WITH CLINT AND SCARLETT (STAGE 4)

Cognitive deterioration in Parkinson‘s disease can lead to difficulties in executive functions, memory and attention, significantly impacting patients‘ quality of life.

Cognitive impairment is a complex and often underestimated aspect of Parkinson‘s disease. Although the disease is primarily associated with motor symptoms, many patients also experience cognitive difficulties over time. These difficulties can manifest as problems with memory, attention, reasoning, and decision–making, which can have a significant impact on their ability to lead an independent daily life. Sometimes these cognitive impairments can be the result of the direct effect of the disease on the brain, while in other cases, they can be exacerbated by factors such as stress, depression, or the side effects of medications. Cognitive degradation in Parkinson‘s disease requires thorough assessment and appropriate management, including non–pharmacological interventions such as cognitive stimulation, rehabilitation, and psychological support to help patients maintain their quality of life and mental well–being.

                        Games adaptation to the needs of Parkinson’s disease

Slowing of thinking

In Parkinson’s, the slowness occurs not only at the level of motricity, but it can also affect the thinking. To improve this function, you can do activities which stimulate the neuronal activation, that is, activities which transmit different stimulus and which require a quick response of the brain.